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Horror Fuel

Final Girls Berlin Film Festival Announces Two Planned Events for 2021

The Final Girls Berlin Film Festival celebrates its sixth edition this year with plans for both a virtual component from February 4-7 2021 and a physical edition for Halloween weekend. Among its films directed and produced by women and non-binary filmmakers are the Italian chiller Darkness, moody German offering Time of Moulting, and creepy Argentian tale of the undead The Returned. Following is the festival’s official press announcement. The Final Girls Berlin Film Festival, Berlin’s premier showcase of horror films directed and produced by women and non-binary filmmakers, will return in the new year for the 6th time and first virtual edition. The fest will run from February 4—7, 2021, and include features, short blocks, and an impressive slate of talks and special offerings. Feature films will be geo-locked to Germany while several short blocks and all non-film programming will be viewable worldwide. This will be followed by a planned second in-person event to take place over Halloween weekend, October

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jan 5, 2021
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Another Hole in the Head Film Festival): Victim of Love

A brooding psychosexual character study that oftentimes flirts with the surreal, Danish film Victim of Love offers striking visuals and gripping performances. Writer/director Jesper Isaksen has crafted a fine debut feature with a brooding, hypnotic flair. Danish-American man Charly (Rudi Køhnke) is staying in the same Copenhagen hotel where his girlfriend Amy (Louise Cho) disappeared a few months earlier. He hits alcohol and cocaine hard, spending seemingly more time under their influences than actually looking for Amy, which he tells others is his reason for being there. Hotel bartender Felicija (Siff Andersson) is a goth denizen of the city nightlife, and she takes Charly on a whirlwind night of partying, and the two eventually wind up in bed together. Charly is haunted by visions of both Amy and a masked murderer, some appearances on the simple side and others much trippier. When Felicija begins to play in his visions too, the proceedings get much darker and more sinister. Charly is

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Dec 29, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Another Hole in the Head Film Festival): F20

Croation shocker F20 may not deliver many surprises to fans of lover-gone-psycho cinema, but its vibrant style and gripping performances make the ride to the inevitable a stirring one. Director Arsen A. Ostojic’s thriller takes viewers on an unsettling ride with nods to slasher fare in its third act. Part-time university student Martina (Romina Tonković) reluctantly helps her widowed father Mate (Mladen Vulić) out at his pizzeria. She develops a crush on Filip (Filip Mayer), a young man her age who orders pizza delivery daily. Asserting herself into his loner lifestyle of playing first-person shooter games while his parents are on vacation at their forest cabin, she and her friend Irena (Lana Ujevic) coax him into going out for drinks and karaoke, and the pair eventually enter into an intimate relationship. Viewers are tipped off very early — some might argue too soon — that something might be amiss with Filip, but I’ll save the how and why to avoid

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Dec 23, 2020
Horror Fuel

‘Violation’ Headed To Shudder Following Sundance Debut

Following its international premiere at Sundance’s 2021 film festival, Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli’s chilling debut feature Violation is heading exclusively to Shudder, AMC Networks’ premiere streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural. Written, produced, and directed by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli, Violation is a turbulent feminist revenge fable that explores the idea of trauma within families and untangles a sticky web of resentment as a troubled woman on the edge of divorce embarks on a vicious crusade when her sister and brother-in-law betray her trust. The film explores gender politics, selfishness, and the abuse of power. Sims-Fewer also stars in the film alongside Anna Maguire, Jesse LaVercombe, Obi Albili, Jasmin Geljo, and Cynthia Ashperger. The deal was negotiated by XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers and Shudder’s Emily Gotto. Shudder continues to be at the forefront of curating many of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed independent and international genre films, including Rob Savage’s Host, Jayro Bustamante’s

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Dec 17, 2020
Horror Fuel

Frida Kempff’s Fierce Horror Film ‘Knocking’ Premiering At Sundance

A strange knocking drives a young woman to the brink of madness following a traumatic event in Frida Kempff‘s (Meet the Artist) Knocking, debuting at Sundance’s virtual film festival as part of the “Midnight Section” this January. The film centers on a woman (Molly) who has just experienced a traumatic incident is unnerved by a haunting knocking sound from upstairs in her new apartment building. As the noises become more desperate and increasingly sound like cries for help, she confronts her neighbors, but it seems no one else can hear them. In an unsettling quest for truth, Molly soon realizes that no one believes her, and begins to question if she even believes herself – a realization that is perhaps even more chilling. Knocking is a sophisticated and psychologically suspenseful narrative in which she deftly amplifies Molly’s gut-wrenching feelings of self-doubt, coupled with a fierce and soul-baring lead performance by actress Cecilia Milocco. SUNDANCE – VIRTUAL SCREENING TIMES: Friday, January

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Dec 17, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Another Hole in the Head Film Festival): Murder Bury Win

Rich in sharp dialogue, amusing situations, and cast members wonderfully bringing their easy-to-root-for characters to life, writer/director Michael Lovan’s Murder Bury Win is a delightful crime comedy with horror elements. From nail clippers to bear traps and beyond, if it can be used as a murder weapon, the protagonists in this film have most likely thought of it. That’s because the main trio is made up of three would-be board game developers. Chris (Mikelen Walker), Adam (Erich Lane), and Barrett (Henry Alexander Kelly) are three game-nerd friends who are trying to come up with a product that can challenge Murder Wall as the next big thing. Chris is interested in the challenge, Adam is interested in the potential money, and Barrett is interested in the collaboration. After the three buddies fail in their crowdfunding effort for the titular game, they are invited by legendary indie game developer V.V. Stubbs (Craig Cackowski) to show him their game. Impressed, or at least

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Dec 15, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Another Hole in the Head Online Film Festival): The Deep Ones

If you are looking for a new exploitation movie version of H.P. Lovecraft’s work, look no further than The Deep Ones. It’s The Shadow Over Innsmouth mashed up with Rosemary’s Baby, Humanoids from the Deep (complete with rape scenes, as in that film; be warned), The Stepford Wives, and tentacle porn, for starters. Lovecraft literary purists will probably shudder at that description, but B-movie aficionados should find plenty to enjoy here. Starting off with naked bodies galore, the film sees Alex (Gina La Piana) and her husband Petri (Johann Urb) renting a seaside vacation home to try and get their minds off of Alex’s miscarraige and reconnect more. Hosts Russell (Robert Miana) and Ingrid (Silvia Spross) Marsh welcome them in an uncomfortably friendly manner, soon taking Petri out on a boat ride where they hypnotize him while the local doctor (TimothyMuskatell in drag) ingratiates herself with Alex. Naturally, there is a reason for everyone’s fake friendliness, and if you guessed

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Dec 9, 2020
Horror Fuel

Bid 2020 Goodbye with Another Hole in the Head Film Festival’s Stellar Genre Film Lineup

San Francisco’s Another Hole in the Head Film Festival is ending 2020 on a high note for horror and genre-film fans by offering a mind-boggling array of almost 300 selections during its December 11-27 online run. Looking for a surreal genre-mash-up? Try Sister Tempest. How about a psychological supernatural thriller — with sharks? Give From the Depths (our featured image for this article) a shot. Interested in a unique approach to a horror classic? Then you’ll want to check out the New Zealand offering The Turn of the Screw. Following is the official press release, with all of the information you’ll need to make a huge must-see list and order tickets. SF IndieFest is pleased to announce the complete program for the 17th Another Hole In The Head Film Festival which takes place December 11 to 27 via Eventive.org and Zoom.us. The festival will once again bring the freshest new independent genre films from around the world to San Francisco

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Dec 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: The Oak Room (Popcorn Frights Wicked Weekend)

Canadian feature The Oak Room is a lean, gripping, dark thriller with horror overtones that celebrates the art of storytelling. Its settings are two closed bars in isolated locations on bitterly cold nights with snowstorms, with each bar story set a week apart. Prodigal son Steve (RJ Mitte) returns to his hometown after not bothering to do so for his father Gordon’s (Nicholas Campbell) funeral, and receives an unwelcoming reception from Gordon’s bartender buddy Paul (Peter Outerbridge). Paul has been saving Gordon’s ashes in a fishing tackle box, but he is not about to turn them over to Steve until the drifter son pays off a monetary debt. Steve tries to bargain to settle up with a story instead of cash, which kicks off the second tale set in another bar in which a stranger (Martin Roach) seeks a few minutes of shelter from an equally unwelcoming barkeep (Ari Millen). Peter Genoway’s screenplay unfolds at a tantalizing pace, slowly revealing

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 25, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Lund Fantastic Film Festival): Get the Hell Out

Taiwanese horror comedy Get the Hell Out is an ultra-fast-paced romp with political messages aplenty that are relatable across international borders. It is a spectacle, to be sure, but ultimately doesn’t offer much new in the zombie comedy department. Hsiung (Megan Lai) is a government official trying to stop a chemical plant from being built literally where her beachside home is. Little does she — let alone others — know that construction of the plant will unleash a rabies virus and turn people into “idiots” — the translated word used in the film in place of zombies. After being forced out of office by rival Li (Chung-wang Wang), she manipulates a security guard she has known since childhood named Wang (Bruce Ho) into running to replace her in office, hoping to be a puppet ruler behind him. Naturally, Li has other plans for Wang, and Wang has his own reasons for doing things in office. Once the infected President enters

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 5, 2020

More from Film Festivals

Horror Fuel

Final Girls Berlin Film Festival Announces Two Planned Events for 2021

The Final Girls Berlin Film Festival celebrates its sixth edition this year with plans for both a virtual component from February 4-7 2021 and a physical edition for Halloween weekend. Among its films directed and produced by women and non-binary filmmakers are the Italian chiller Darkness, moody German offering Time of Moulting, and creepy Argentian tale of the undead The Returned. Following is the festival’s official press announcement. The Final Girls Berlin Film Festival, Berlin’s premier showcase of horror films directed and produced by women and non-binary filmmakers, will return in the new year for the 6th time and first virtual edition. The fest will run from February 4—7, 2021, and include features, short blocks, and an impressive slate of talks and special offerings. Feature films will be geo-locked to Germany while several short blocks and all non-film programming will be viewable worldwide. This will be followed by a planned second in-person event to take place over Halloween weekend, October

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jan 5, 2021
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Another Hole in the Head Film Festival): Victim of Love

A brooding psychosexual character study that oftentimes flirts with the surreal, Danish film Victim of Love offers striking visuals and gripping performances. Writer/director Jesper Isaksen has crafted a fine debut feature with a brooding, hypnotic flair. Danish-American man Charly (Rudi Køhnke) is staying in the same Copenhagen hotel where his girlfriend Amy (Louise Cho) disappeared a few months earlier. He hits alcohol and cocaine hard, spending seemingly more time under their influences than actually looking for Amy, which he tells others is his reason for being there. Hotel bartender Felicija (Siff Andersson) is a goth denizen of the city nightlife, and she takes Charly on a whirlwind night of partying, and the two eventually wind up in bed together. Charly is haunted by visions of both Amy and a masked murderer, some appearances on the simple side and others much trippier. When Felicija begins to play in his visions too, the proceedings get much darker and more sinister. Charly is

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Dec 29, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Another Hole in the Head Film Festival): F20

Croation shocker F20 may not deliver many surprises to fans of lover-gone-psycho cinema, but its vibrant style and gripping performances make the ride to the inevitable a stirring one. Director Arsen A. Ostojic’s thriller takes viewers on an unsettling ride with nods to slasher fare in its third act. Part-time university student Martina (Romina Tonković) reluctantly helps her widowed father Mate (Mladen Vulić) out at his pizzeria. She develops a crush on Filip (Filip Mayer), a young man her age who orders pizza delivery daily. Asserting herself into his loner lifestyle of playing first-person shooter games while his parents are on vacation at their forest cabin, she and her friend Irena (Lana Ujevic) coax him into going out for drinks and karaoke, and the pair eventually enter into an intimate relationship. Viewers are tipped off very early — some might argue too soon — that something might be amiss with Filip, but I’ll save the how and why to avoid

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Dec 23, 2020
Horror Fuel

‘Violation’ Headed To Shudder Following Sundance Debut

Following its international premiere at Sundance’s 2021 film festival, Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli’s chilling debut feature Violation is heading exclusively to Shudder, AMC Networks’ premiere streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural. Written, produced, and directed by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli, Violation is a turbulent feminist revenge fable that explores the idea of trauma within families and untangles a sticky web of resentment as a troubled woman on the edge of divorce embarks on a vicious crusade when her sister and brother-in-law betray her trust. The film explores gender politics, selfishness, and the abuse of power. Sims-Fewer also stars in the film alongside Anna Maguire, Jesse LaVercombe, Obi Albili, Jasmin Geljo, and Cynthia Ashperger. The deal was negotiated by XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers and Shudder’s Emily Gotto. Shudder continues to be at the forefront of curating many of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed independent and international genre films, including Rob Savage’s Host, Jayro Bustamante’s

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Dec 17, 2020
Horror Fuel

Frida Kempff’s Fierce Horror Film ‘Knocking’ Premiering At Sundance

A strange knocking drives a young woman to the brink of madness following a traumatic event in Frida Kempff‘s (Meet the Artist) Knocking, debuting at Sundance’s virtual film festival as part of the “Midnight Section” this January. The film centers on a woman (Molly) who has just experienced a traumatic incident is unnerved by a haunting knocking sound from upstairs in her new apartment building. As the noises become more desperate and increasingly sound like cries for help, she confronts her neighbors, but it seems no one else can hear them. In an unsettling quest for truth, Molly soon realizes that no one believes her, and begins to question if she even believes herself – a realization that is perhaps even more chilling. Knocking is a sophisticated and psychologically suspenseful narrative in which she deftly amplifies Molly’s gut-wrenching feelings of self-doubt, coupled with a fierce and soul-baring lead performance by actress Cecilia Milocco. SUNDANCE – VIRTUAL SCREENING TIMES: Friday, January

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Dec 17, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Another Hole in the Head Film Festival): Murder Bury Win

Rich in sharp dialogue, amusing situations, and cast members wonderfully bringing their easy-to-root-for characters to life, writer/director Michael Lovan’s Murder Bury Win is a delightful crime comedy with horror elements. From nail clippers to bear traps and beyond, if it can be used as a murder weapon, the protagonists in this film have most likely thought of it. That’s because the main trio is made up of three would-be board game developers. Chris (Mikelen Walker), Adam (Erich Lane), and Barrett (Henry Alexander Kelly) are three game-nerd friends who are trying to come up with a product that can challenge Murder Wall as the next big thing. Chris is interested in the challenge, Adam is interested in the potential money, and Barrett is interested in the collaboration. After the three buddies fail in their crowdfunding effort for the titular game, they are invited by legendary indie game developer V.V. Stubbs (Craig Cackowski) to show him their game. Impressed, or at least

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Dec 15, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Another Hole in the Head Online Film Festival): The Deep Ones

If you are looking for a new exploitation movie version of H.P. Lovecraft’s work, look no further than The Deep Ones. It’s The Shadow Over Innsmouth mashed up with Rosemary’s Baby, Humanoids from the Deep (complete with rape scenes, as in that film; be warned), The Stepford Wives, and tentacle porn, for starters. Lovecraft literary purists will probably shudder at that description, but B-movie aficionados should find plenty to enjoy here. Starting off with naked bodies galore, the film sees Alex (Gina La Piana) and her husband Petri (Johann Urb) renting a seaside vacation home to try and get their minds off of Alex’s miscarraige and reconnect more. Hosts Russell (Robert Miana) and Ingrid (Silvia Spross) Marsh welcome them in an uncomfortably friendly manner, soon taking Petri out on a boat ride where they hypnotize him while the local doctor (TimothyMuskatell in drag) ingratiates herself with Alex. Naturally, there is a reason for everyone’s fake friendliness, and if you guessed

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Dec 9, 2020
Horror Fuel

Bid 2020 Goodbye with Another Hole in the Head Film Festival’s Stellar Genre Film Lineup

San Francisco’s Another Hole in the Head Film Festival is ending 2020 on a high note for horror and genre-film fans by offering a mind-boggling array of almost 300 selections during its December 11-27 online run. Looking for a surreal genre-mash-up? Try Sister Tempest. How about a psychological supernatural thriller — with sharks? Give From the Depths (our featured image for this article) a shot. Interested in a unique approach to a horror classic? Then you’ll want to check out the New Zealand offering The Turn of the Screw. Following is the official press release, with all of the information you’ll need to make a huge must-see list and order tickets. SF IndieFest is pleased to announce the complete program for the 17th Another Hole In The Head Film Festival which takes place December 11 to 27 via Eventive.org and Zoom.us. The festival will once again bring the freshest new independent genre films from around the world to San Francisco

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Dec 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: The Oak Room (Popcorn Frights Wicked Weekend)

Canadian feature The Oak Room is a lean, gripping, dark thriller with horror overtones that celebrates the art of storytelling. Its settings are two closed bars in isolated locations on bitterly cold nights with snowstorms, with each bar story set a week apart. Prodigal son Steve (RJ Mitte) returns to his hometown after not bothering to do so for his father Gordon’s (Nicholas Campbell) funeral, and receives an unwelcoming reception from Gordon’s bartender buddy Paul (Peter Outerbridge). Paul has been saving Gordon’s ashes in a fishing tackle box, but he is not about to turn them over to Steve until the drifter son pays off a monetary debt. Steve tries to bargain to settle up with a story instead of cash, which kicks off the second tale set in another bar in which a stranger (Martin Roach) seeks a few minutes of shelter from an equally unwelcoming barkeep (Ari Millen). Peter Genoway’s screenplay unfolds at a tantalizing pace, slowly revealing

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 25, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review (Lund Fantastic Film Festival): Get the Hell Out

Taiwanese horror comedy Get the Hell Out is an ultra-fast-paced romp with political messages aplenty that are relatable across international borders. It is a spectacle, to be sure, but ultimately doesn’t offer much new in the zombie comedy department. Hsiung (Megan Lai) is a government official trying to stop a chemical plant from being built literally where her beachside home is. Little does she — let alone others — know that construction of the plant will unleash a rabies virus and turn people into “idiots” — the translated word used in the film in place of zombies. After being forced out of office by rival Li (Chung-wang Wang), she manipulates a security guard she has known since childhood named Wang (Bruce Ho) into running to replace her in office, hoping to be a puppet ruler behind him. Naturally, Li has other plans for Wang, and Wang has his own reasons for doing things in office. Once the infected President enters

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Nov 5, 2020
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